University College London - UCL vs London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE vs Istituto Marangoni vs Birkbeck University of London vs Central Saint Martins - CSM

Side-by-side comparison from 778 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Central Saint Martins - CSM (4.80)
University College London - UCL: wins 0/7 categories
London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE: wins 1/7 categories
Istituto Marangoni: wins 1/7 categories
Birkbeck University of London: wins 1/7 categories
Central Saint Martins - CSM: wins 3/7 categories
Le Cordon Bleu Paris: wins 1/7 categories
European School of Economics - ESE: wins 0/7 categories
Comparing
London, The United Kingdom
4.30
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360 reviews
×
Best programme: European Social and Political Studies
Best programme: Economics
London, The United Kingdom
3.70
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3 reviews
×
Best programme: International Fashion Business
London, The United Kingdom
4.30
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35 reviews
×
Best programme: BSc Psychology
London, The United Kingdom
4.80
Top
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4 reviews
×
Best programme: Graphic Design
Best programme: Culinary Arts
London, The United Kingdom
4.50
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39 reviews
×
Best programme: Business Administration
Category ratings
Facilities
4.24
4.05
3.33
4.18
5.00
Win
4.40
4.00
Location
4.64
4.78
4.67
4.59
5.00
Win
4.70
4.79
Professors
4.28
4.26
4.33
4.50
4.00
4.60
Win
4.44
Internationality
4.62
4.80
Win
4.67
4.44
4.50
4.60
4.51
Student life
4.26
3.65
3.67
3.76
4.67
Win
3.90
4.43
Value
4.15
4.05
4.33
Win
4.09
4.00
3.90
4.31
Accommodation
3.71
3.80
4.00
4.19
Win
4.00
3.00
4.11
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +World-class education and intellectually stimulating environment
  • +Amazing central London location and vibrant community
  • +Knowledgeable and approachable staff
  • +Knowledgeable and approachable faculty
  • +High-quality academic programs and clear feedback
  • +Excellent facilities and resources
  • +Global fashion hub and career opportunities
  • +Inspiring teachers and valuable learning experiences
  • +Supportive and caring staff communication
  • +Engaging and knowledgeable lecturers
  • +Diverse and motivated student community
  • +Excellent facilities and workshop opportunities
  • +Supportive services and challenging academic briefs
  • +Diverse and enriching program options fostering creativity
  • +Exceptional teaching quality from passionate, experienced instructors
  • +Unmatched precision, emphasis on quality, and professional skill development
  • +Welcoming environment, strong support, and valuable alumni network
  • +International relevance & practical/hands-on experience
  • +Welcoming & supportive environment with friendly, helpful staff/faculty
  • +Diverse, small classes with experienced professors
Cons
  • -Administrative and enrollment issues are a significant problem.
  • -Lack of accessibility and problems with academic record keeping are prevalent.
  • -Over-enrolled courses and insufficient practical instruction are common complaints.
  • -Poor teaching quality and unstructured courses.
  • -High fees combined with lack of support and career services.
  • -Limited social life and judgmental environment.
  • -Administrative and management issues create confusion and frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and lack of resources hinder learning.
  • -Communication breakdowns and lack of transparency are significant problems.
  • -Unresponsive and unhelpful administrative staff.
  • -Overcrowded and poorly maintained facilities.
  • -Lack of adequate resources and support for students.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a frequent source of frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of modern resources are a common complaint.
  • -Poor communication and lack of support from faculty and staff are significant problems.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and lack of modern resources are disappointing.
  • -The curriculum feels irrelevant and disconnected from real-world needs.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a frequent source of frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of modern resources are often criticized.
  • -Poor teaching quality and unengaging course content are commonly cited.
Rating summary
What students say

This institution garners exceptionally high marks for its **Location** (4.64) and **Internationality** (4.62). Its **Facilities**, **Professors**, and **Student Life** also received strong scores, all above 4.2. The primary area for improvement seems to be **Accomodation**, which scored the lowest at 3.71, though **Value** also presented a moderate rating of 4.15.

Examining the university's performance reveals a diverse set of scores. The strongest areas are **Internationality** and **Location**, both receiving very high marks. **Student Life** stands out as the weakest performing category. Other areas like **Professors**, **Accomodation**, and **Facilities** received solid, above-average ratings, with **Value** also scoring positively.

This institution shines particularly brightly in its **Location** and **Internationality**, both receiving excellent scores. **Professors** and **Value** also stand out as strong points. Conversely, the **Facilities** represent the weakest area, scoring considerably lower than other aspects. **Student Life** and **Accomodation** fall in the mid-range, indicating areas for potential improvement but also solid performance.

Academic and faculty excellence stand out, with professors receiving a near-perfect score. Location also scores highly, reflecting a desirable setting. However, student life and value represent the areas with the most room for improvement. Facilities and internationality are rated favorably, contributing to a generally positive assessment.

This institution garners exceptional ratings for its Facilities and Location, both scoring a perfect five. Student Life and Internationality also stand out with strong scores of 4.67 and 4.5, respectively. While Professors, Accommodations, and Value receive solid ratings of 4, these represent the areas with the most room for improvement compared to the university's other strengths.

This university demonstrates exceptional strength in its **location** (4.7), **professors** (4.6), and **internationality** (4.6). Students are particularly impressed with the quality of instruction and the global environment. Conversely, **accommodation** stands out as the lowest-rated area at 3.0, suggesting room for improvement in this aspect. Student life and value for money also received moderate scores.

Student feedback indicates strong satisfaction across several aspects of university life. Location stands out as the highest-rated area, with internationality and professors also receiving excellent marks. While student life and value are also highly regarded, facilities represent the weakest area among the surveyed categories. Overall, the institution demonstrates a solid performance with clear strengths in its external and academic offerings.

Reviews summary
Highlights

Over 98% of reviews are positive, highlighting outstanding education, a diverse international community, and an amazing London location. A small percentage of feedback mentions administrative issues and accessibility concerns.

Approximately 96.6% of reviews are positive, praising knowledgeable professors, supportive learning environments, and strong academic reputations. A small percentage (around 3.4%) of negative feedback cites issues with lecturing, grading, and course structure.

With a 3.67 average rating, positive feedback (~33%) highlights fashion business opportunities and inspiring teachers. No negative reviews were provided.

With a 4.26/5 average rating from 35 reviews, ~100% of feedback is positive. Students highlight strong communication, caring and approachable staff, and knowledgeable, engaging lecturers. Small class sizes foster personalized attention.

Reviews are overwhelmingly positive (~100% with 4–5 stars and an average rating of 4.75/5). Students praise supportive services, challenging tutors, and excellent facilities for practice and creativity. Some mention a desire for greater diversity among students and tutors, and a few noted potential issues with tutor-to-student ratios.

Students highly praise the exceptional quality of teaching and knowledgeable instructors. Facilities are noted as impeccable and the learning environment welcoming, contributing to professional and personal growth for ~100% of reviewers.

University reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with ~95% of feedback highlighting an engaging, internationally relevant learning experience and a welcoming environment. Students appreciate practical learning, helpful staff, and international class settings. No negative feedback was recorded.

Rating distribution
5★
44%
34%
33%
43%
75%
60%
59%
4★
42%
44%
0%
40%
25%
40%
36%
3★
13%
18%
67%
17%
0%
0%
5%
2★
1%
2%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
1%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
Openness and Diversity

I like our school very much, because the school provides many club activities, psychological counseling and career experience activities every week, as well as free paper tutorials and resume revision services, which have laid a good foundation for my future development outside the campus. However, due to the heavy pressure of school work, I have limited time to participate in these activities. Maybe the school can carry out some seminars or courses to help us better balance study and various activities. In general, I highly recommend our school, it is a good place to study.

Great Experience

LSE is a great place to create life-long connections and friends. There's a certain sense of community that is special to the university. The staff are hands-on and approachable. The facilities are modern and well-equipped.

Educational content

I like a lot of it but I feel like the subject teaches us the same every time. There should be more diversity in our contents and make us work more in groups and do more exercises in class, in order words the classes should be more dynamic

Nothing to show

CSM Graphic Communication Design

I have been studying Graphic Communication Design for the past three years, beginning with the foundation course. While this program may not be the ideal choice for those solely focused on commercial design, it offers an incredibly diverse and enriching experience for anyone interested in the intersection of communication design with various other fields. The program excels in fostering creativity and encourages exploration in areas such as fine art, fashion, bio-design, and beyond. This interdisciplinary approach allows students to leverage their creative thinking and graphic communication skills to pursue virtually any direction they can imagine. The flexibility and breadth of the curriculum enable students to develop a unique and personalized skill set, preparing them for a wide range of career paths. Overall, this program is perfect for those looking to expand their horizons and apply their graphic communication design skills in innovative and unexpected ways. It provides a solid foundation for becoming a versatile and adaptable designer in today's ever-evolving creative landscape.

Student in 2013

I really enjoyed my time at LCB! I've found that my skills when I entered the work force were much higher than others. I think though there was a big portion missing in recipe development and composition. True- we did learn it through memorizing the recipes, but we really were missing classes on how different ingredients affect the final textures.. how you can change them... etc. That I still am not an expert in .. and I create recipes! Ouf! Also, I don't know if you still do a month of sugar work... but that really wasn't necessary and should be either cut or minimized to just 2 lessons. It's such a niche skill to know that I would have really preferred more technical skills. I loved the old location. The "rumors" I'm getting about the new location are that it's not as good, unfortunately - that i's become more of a money focused/marketing machine. I really hope that this image can be fixed as I love LCB and enjoyed my time there! Oh also - there should be more help for students to get jobs and featuring old students accomplishments - from cookbook launches to new bakeries so that current and old students can support them.

The amazing professors/teachers there!

First of all since my campus was in the heart of Rome, the place and inside of the university was like a whole museum. I love how friendly and helpful the staff was, the professors were one in a million. I love how they did all their best to tell us about the subjects in detail and in a fun way with examples for us to get into it more. I liked how they make time and engage in it and actually help us to teach us, so it was all in one reading writing with our own brain and infos searching for the sources by ourselves listening but also being able to express our own way of knowledge on the topics!

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